throw·back
ˈthrō-ˌbak 
1
: one that is suggestive of or suited to an earlier time or style
his manners were a throwback to a more polite era
2
a
: reversion to an earlier type or phase : atavism
b
: an instance or product of atavistic reversion
threw back; thrown back; throwing back; throws back
1
: to delay the progress or advance of : check
2
: to cause to rely : make dependent
they are thrown back upon … native intelligence—
Michael Novak
Michael Novak3
: reflect
: to revert to an earlier type or phase
Examples of throwback in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Fernando Quiles Jr, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
Additionally, with various throwback and legacy events set at the 100th anniversary celebrating the Egyptian Theatre on upper Main Street, an archival screening of Lynn Shelton’s Humpday, which debuted at SFF 2009, is on the calendar too.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2025
To celebrate their tenth wedding anniversary, Garth marked the occasion with a throwback photo from their first trip.
—Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
The country twang of her Nashville origins has been replaced with sonorous synths, and in the case of Showgirl, a throwback to the retro electric guitar sound of her bestselling 2014 album 1989.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for throwback
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Styles wore his throwback TNA Wrestling shorts for the match.
—Fernando Quiles Jr, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
Additionally, with various throwback and legacy events set at the 100th anniversary celebrating the Egyptian Theatre on upper Main Street, an archival screening of Lynn Shelton’s Humpday, which debuted at SFF 2009, is on the calendar too.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2025
To celebrate their tenth wedding anniversary, Garth marked the occasion with a throwback photo from their first trip.
—Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
The country twang of her Nashville origins has been replaced with sonorous synths, and in the case of Showgirl, a throwback to the retro electric guitar sound of her bestselling 2014 album 1989.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for throwback
Cite this Entry
“Throwback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/throwback. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
throwback
noun
throw·back
ˈthrō-ˌbak
: something that has changed back to an earlier type or phase
Medical Definition
throwback
noun
throw·back
ˈthrō-ˌbak
1
: reversion to an earlier type or phase : atavism
2
: an instance or product of atavistic reversion
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share